Each one of you out there has different issues, needs, fears, strengths, weaknesses, preferences, and expectations (we could go on, but we’ll stop there), so when it comes to narrowing down the best self-help books for men, ten is a small number.
But, hey, we’ve done it anyway!
The options on our list below include a mixture of options that appeal to a wide crowd, so whether you’re looking for a way to be a more successful businessman or you need something that will help you be more productive, there’s something for everyone.
What Answers Do You Seek?
Got any idea as to what prompted you to look for a self-help book in the first place? Hopefully, you do! You may not know (or want to admit) that you need help, and if that’s the case, you should read the summary of every book on our list to find out.
Here are a few of the main categories of self-help books for men:
- Love, Relationships, Sex Life
- Finances, Business, Marketing
- Motivational
- Anger Management
- Parenting (number 6 on our list below is great for dads)
- Religious and Spiritual (check out number 7 below)
Believe us, there are plenty more, but it would take up 10 articles to list them all.
We’ve tried to include a mix for you below to make your search easier.
The Quality of the Advice
Would you want to follow the advice and tips of an ax-murdering psychopath who had never studied a day of psychology in their life? (No, the answer is “No!”)
We didn’t think so.
The point is that you should find out about the person who wrote the self-help book you are interested in reading.
Who are they? What are their credentials? Is the book based more on their opinions of existing theories, or are they telling you their opinion without justifying their thoughts?
Always think about where the advice is coming from, connect to it, and be useful to you.
A book your single buddy read about how to attract the ladies may not be relevant to you, a dad with a family to nurture.
Skim the book and read the chapter titles to get a sense of the topics it will cover. This will help you determine if it’s the right book for you.
Top 10 Men’s Self-Help Books Table
Top 3 Best Self-Help Books for Men
The three best self-help books for men on our list are here below, but they aren’t right for every single one of you out there searching and reading.
Don’t like these three options? No problem! Have a gander at the other seven on our list. If the book fits, read it!
1. Dale Carnegie How To Win Friends
An oldie but a goodie, How To Win Friends & Influence People has been a smashing success since it was first published in 1936.
Understanding people, dealing with people, and interacting with people; author Dale Carnegie discusses the top six techniques to make people like you, 12 ways to win people over to your way of thinking, and 9 ways to change people without causing them to resent you.
Real-life examples back up his advice as he shares his understanding of human nature on every page.
While this book is great for everyone, it has especially proven to help men in the business world.
Read a copy to find out why!
2. Viktor E. Frankl Man’s Search for Meaning
This book is helpful to those who strive to find meaning in their life rather than focusing on power and pleasure.
In the book, author, neurologist, and psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl recalls his time spent in concentration camps during World War II, which he uses to describe his theory (known as Logotherapy).
Those of you who don’t deal well with suffering and loss will find guidance from Frankl’s book as it discusses how to cope with suffering rather than avoiding it.
It is truly a powerful and influential book that you should read at least once. His tales of survival and what he was able to learn from all of the horrors that he faced are truly inspiring.
3. Stephen R. Covey The 7 Habits
In this book by Stephen R. Covey, you will learn the seven habits that will help you be more effective in everything you do.
They include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win/win, seeking first to understand then to be understood, synergizing, and finally sharpening the saw.
As Covey discusses in the book, all of these habits help you understand that real success comes from a balance of personal and professional effectiveness (meaning that this is a great book for those looking to improve in both ways).
It teaches you the seven habits and teaches you what you need to do before you start incorporating them into your lifestyle, which is to change your perspective and interpretation of how the world works.
You’ll think more positively and manage your time better, but it isn’t something that you’ll skim through in one sitting.
This book makes you think critically about the suggestions it contains and about yourself, which means that you can read it more than once and gain something new and important from it every time.